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Smollett told reporters Tuesday that he had been "truthful and consistent at all levels since the first day". His lawyers insisted that he was indeed attacked and that erroneous information led to a hasty judgment against him.
But Mayor Rahm Emanuel criticized the prosecutor's decision as a "money laundering" and police commissioner Eddie Johnson accused Smollett of being hidden behind a deal "negotiated … in secret" .
The developments of the day left more questions than answers. Here are a few:
How did it happen?
The Cook County Attorney's Office did not immediately explain why the 16 charges had been dropped, except to say that the decision was made after considering the facts of the case – and given Smollett's willingness to waive his $ 10,000 bond.
"After reviewing all the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollett's volunteer service in the community and his agreement to waive his bond for the benefit of the City of Chicago, we believe that this result is a fair decision and an appropriate solution to this case, "the state attorney's office said in a statement.
Senior prosecutor Joseph Magats, the first deputy prosecutor, said he understood that people would be questioning the abandonment of charges, but that thousands of cases had similar resolutions.
Magats said the charges would not have been dropped without the bail bond and the community service factor. He added that Smollett had no previous crimes and was not a danger to the community. When asked if he considered Smollett to be innocent, the attorney told CNN WLS affiliate: "No.
"He was sued, it may not have been the decision everyone thought," Magats told WLS. "He did community service, he lost $ 10,000, it's a fair and just decision in the case."
CNN solicited comments from Magats and the state attorney's office.
What did Smollett have to say about it?
After a brief court appearance in Chicago, Smollett told reporters that he was grateful to those who supported him and that he would not have put his family "in front of such a fire" for a lie.
"I have been honest and consistent at all levels since the first day," he said in a brief statement. "I would not be my mother's son if I were able to a drop of what I am accused of."
Smollett is called a "man of faith". He promised to "continue to fight for justice, equality and the improvement of the living conditions of marginalized people".
Emanuel and Johnson then spoke at a press conference, reacting angrily to the latest developments.
"From top to bottom, it's not up to the level, you have a person who uses the hate crime laws that are on the books" to promote themselves, said Emanuel. "Is there no modesty in this man?"
Johnson said, "If you want to say that you are innocent of the situation, you spend your day in court … I will never hide behind an agreement negotiated in secret, period."
The Superintendent stated that the police had learned that the charges had been dropped when the news was made public.
Are the perpetrators of the attack still there?
Smollett's attorneys claim that he was attacked in Chicago on January 29th.
The actor reported to the police that two men assaulted him near the lower entrance of a Loews hotel at about 2 am on his way home after taking something to eat.
Smollett, who embodies a gay character in Fox's drama, said that the assailants had shouted: "Empire". and "" Empire "while striking him, police said.The incident ended with a noose around his neck and diluted bleach on him, police said.
The actor also said that one of the men had shouted, "This is the country of MAGA," referring to President Donald Trump's slogan: "Make America Great Again," according to police.
The police initially investigated this case as a possible hate crime.
After the police arrested and interrogated two brothers described as "persons of interest" in the case in mid-February, the authorities assumed that the authorities suspected Smollett of knowing the men and would have paid them for organize the attack.
Police said the brothers had attacked Smollett at the direction of the actor. The men were released without charge.
On Tuesday, Smollett's lawyer, Patricia Brown Holmes, insisted that the brothers – who she said were the physical trainers of the actor – were the assailants.
"The two brothers claimed to have attacked her," she said. "(But) we do not want to try them in the press any more than" Smollett wanted to be, she said.
What happens to the brothers?
Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo expressed "immense regret" for their involvement in what the police described as an organized attack.
"They understand the impact this has had on the whole country, especially minorities and in particular the victims of hate crimes," said Gloria Schmidt, a lawyer for the two brothers, earlier this month. this.
Police claimed that Smollett paid them $ 3,500 to organize the attack.
Investigators believe that Smollett orchestrated the attack "because he was not satisfied with his salary," Johnson said, citing information that the brothers had communicated to the police.
The two brothers fully cooperated with the investigation and were no longer suspects, the Chicago police said. They were released without charge after being arrested last month.
Why did Smollett lose his connection?
It may have been a strategic move.
The Cook County Attorney's Office relied on Smollett's consent to waive his bond to explain why the charges had been dropped.
But Emanuel told reporters that the $ 10,000 bond "does not even match" what the city spent to investigate the alleged attack.
The case could be unsealed?
Some parts of the case have been sealed, said one of Smollett's lawyers.
Holmes did not provide details on the order, merely indicating that the state had dropped the lawsuits and decided to "seal the case in this case".
Whether all files remain sealed or not, we may never know what has happened.
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